| The Ensworth School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Nashville, TN, USA | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | "In Search of Truth" |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Non-sectarian |
| Established | 1958 |
| Headmaster | William N. Moseley |
| Enrollment | 1,041 |
| Average class size | 15 students |
| Student to teacher ratio | 8:1 |
| Color(s) | Black and Orange |
| Athletics conference | TSSAA - Division II |
| Mascot | Tiger |
| Accreditation(s) | SACS, SAIS |
| Endowment | $7.5 million |
| Website | http://www.ensworth.com/ |
The Ensworth School is a private school located on two separate campuses in Nashville, Tennessee.
The original school, with grades "pre-first" (kindergarten) through eighth, opened in 1958 with 152 students. The school opened in a large Tudor-style home; its distinctive architecture became a symbol of the school itself. That facility, since expanded several times, is now known as the Red Gables Campus, and is located at 211 Ensworth Avenue.[1]
In 2002 the school initiated a $60 million capital campaign, with the goal of expanding the school to grade 12. After operating for over 40 years as a K-8 school, Ensworth added a high school in 2004, located on Tennessee State Route 100 adjacent to Edwin Warner Park and known as the Devon Farm Campus.[2] The high school began with grade 9 and added a grade each following year; the school's first graduating class has matriculated in 2008.
In 2005, the newly constructed high school earned nationwide honors for architecture from American School and University Magazine and the Boston Society of Architects.[3]
A 665-seat theater has recently been completed on the high school campus.[1]
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EHS is located at 7401 Highway 100, Nashville, Tennessee. The high school campus was built overlooking the confluence of the Harpeth and Little Harpeth Rivers, near Edwin Warner Park.
In June 2003 construction of the school's tennis courts resulted in the discovery of several prehistoric human burials.[4] The developer petitioned the Davidson County Chancery Court, and was granted permission to remove and relocate all burials within the construction zone to an adjacent portion of the school property.[5]
Archaeological excavations were subsequently conducted in order to identify and remove all human remains from the site. The excavations resulted in the discovery of more than 300 archaeological features, of which 64 contained human remains.[4] Artifacts recovered during these investigations indicate the site was occupied over a 9000-year time frame stretching from the Early Archaic through Mississippian periods. The site was most intensively occupied during the period known as the Benton phase (ca. 6000–5000 B.P.). Artifacts from this period were prolific at the site, and included numerous finely crafted burial offerings.
Beginning around 1798, the land containing EHS was situated within a large agricultural property owned and farmed by the families of brothers Giles and Thomas Harding. Between 1798 and 1807, Giles Harding and his sons constructed a home that would be known as Oak Hill and later Devon Farm.[6] This home was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, due to the architectural integrity of the main house and the significance of the Harding family to the early settlement of the Nashville area.[7] The historic cemetery associated with the Devon Farm was moved in 2003 during construction of EHS.[8] The NRHP-listed home was renovated and now serves as the school's admissions office.
The Ensworth High School campus was built after a fund-raising campaign that raised nearly 60 million dollars. This also benefited the Lower and Middle Schools. The High School began classes in 2004, and its first senior class graduated in 2008. To commemorate the Lower and Middle school's 50th anniversary, the students will build houses for Habitat For Humanity, a service organization.
In the fall of 2007, Ensworth High School welcomed its fourth and final "cornerstone class," filling the campus for the first time. At the conclusion of the school year, the High School's charter class graduated.
In the Lower School every student has art for two periods each week, with an art teacher, in fully equipped art rooms. Students explore creating in many different media including paints, pastels, charcoals, ceramics, textiles, and others.
In the Middle School the creative process, not the finished product, is emphasized, and students are encouraged to bring their individual personalities to bear on their work. The wide variety of artwork is displayed throughout the school.
The arts at Ensworth High School are designed to challenge and encourage students from the inexperienced to the developing professional in three areas: Visual Arts, Music, and Theater/Dance. Students are required to take four semesters of Arts courses in at least two of these areas, beginning with a Foundation course and including one course at least at Level 2. Additional Arts courses may contribute to satisfying the Distribution requirement in the Humanities. The rich curriculum includes courses in photography, graphic design, ceramics, painting, drawing, and art history.